Crash Patterns in Young Maryland Drivers: Before and After the New Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) System Cynthia A. Burch, MPH National Study Center for Trauma & EMS University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland GDL System Effective July 1, 1999 with these changes: 3-level licensing system Learner’s Permit – min. age=15 yrs. 9 mos. Valid for 1 year (up from 6 months) Hold for 4 months (up from 14 days) conviction-free Begin practice log for supervised driving

Maryland GDL System 3-level licensing system Provisional License – min. age=16 yrs 1 mo (up from 16 yrs) Requires successful completion of Driver’s Ed for all ages (was only if under age 18) Completed practice log with 40 hrs of supervised driving Must be held for 18 mos (up from 12 mos) conviction-free

Maryland GDL System 3-level licensing system Driver’s License – min. age=17 yrs 7 mos. (up from 17 yrs) Now: must maintain 18 month conviction-free period prior to full license regardless of age Then: could convert to full license if conviction free for past 12 months or at age 18 regardless of convictions

Pre- and Post- Law Crash Data were collected through the Maryland Automated Accident Reporting System (MAARS) Citation Data were collected from the Maryland Court System Data for Licensed Drivers were collected through the Federal Highway Administration from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

Pre- and Post- Law 2 years of data were collected pre-law (1997 & 1998) and post-law (2000 & 2001) For population figures and total number of licensed drivers, the average of 1997 and 1998 were used for pre-law and the average of 2000 and 2001 were used for post-law

Analysis Crash frequencies and rates were compared among 16 and year-old populations and licensed drivers Citation frequencies and rates were compared for the 16 and year-old populations and licensed drivers before and after GDL implementation

Total crashes Pre-LawPost-Law% change 16 y/o7,2126, y/o7,7238, y/o7,6448, y/o7,3848, y/o7,1098, y/o7,0057, y/o36,86542,

Population Pre-LawPost-Law% change 16 y/o68,90672, y/o61,12068, y/o59,08863, y/o57,83660, y/o58,27659, y/o63,51459, y/o299,834311,

Crash Rates (per 1,000 population) Pre-LawPost-law% change 16 y/o y/o y/o y/o y/o y/o y/o

Number of Licensed Drivers Pre-LawPost-Law% change 16 y/o23,01818, y/o44,73448, y/o41,93446, y/o43,00947, y/o45,30448, y/o47,75950, y/o222,740240,

Crash Rates (per 1,000 licensed drivers) Pre-LawPost-law% change 16 y/o y/o y/o y/o y/o y/o y/o

16 y/o Citation Information Pre-law 15,739 citations were issued to 16 y/o drivers throughout the state This is a rate of per 1,000 population and 683.8/1,000 licensed drivers Post-law 12,995 citations were issued to 16 y/o drivers This is a rate of per 1,000 population and 707.9/1,000 licensed drivers This shows a 17.4% decrease in citations issued, a 21.4% decrease in the citation rate per population, but a 3.5% increase in the citation rate per licensed drivers pre- and post- law

Citations for 16 y/o Drivers Pre-law – 66.5% for speeding 19.5% for failure to wear a seatbelt (primary law in MD) 5.6% for failure to yield Post-law – 71.0% for speeding 16.4% for failure to wear a seatbelt 5.1% for failure to yield

Citations to 16 y/o Drivers Pre-LawPost-Law% change Belt Use3,0652, Failure to Yield Red Light Running 1, Speeding10,4649,

16 y/o Citation Rates (per 1,000 population) Pre-LawPost-Law% change Belt Use Failure to Yield Red Light Running Speeding

16 y/o Citation Rates (per 1, y/o licensed drivers) Pre-LawPost-Law% change Belt Use Failure to Yield Red Light Running Speeding

20-24 y/o Citation Information Pre-law 248,571 citations were issued to y/o drivers throughout the state This is a rate of per 1,000 population and 1,116.0/1,000 licensed drivers Post-law 242,345 citations were issued to y/o drivers This is a rate of per population and 1,007.5/1,000 licensed drivers This shows a 2.5% decrease in citations issued, a 6.3% decrease in the citation rate per population and a 9.7% decrease in the citation rate per licensed drivers pre- and post- law

Citations for y/o Drivers Pre-law – 56.0% for speeding 21.8% for failure to wear a seatbelt 1.1% for failure to yield Post-law – 55.1% for speeding 21.0% for failure to wear a seatbelt 1.2% for failure to yield

Citations to y/o Drivers Pre-LawPost-Law% change Belt Use54,10550, Failure to Yield 2,8082, Red Light Running 22,84518, Speeding139,087133,

20-24 y/o Citation Rates (per 1,000 population) Pre-LawPost-Law% change Belt Use Failure to Yield Red Light Running Speeding

20-24 y/o Citation Rates (per 1, y/o licensed drivers) Pre-LawPost-Law% change Belt Use Failure to Yield Red Light Running Speeding

Conclusions As the total number of crashes involving a 16 y/o driver decreased and the crash rate per population decreased, the crash rate per licensed drivers increased. As the total number of citations issued to 16 y/o drivers decreased and the citation rate per population decreased, the citation rate per licensed drivers increased. Similar results were found in a San Diego study presented at AAAM.

Discussion Previous studies have focused on the number of crashes involving 16 y/o drivers and the population crash rate as a means of evaluating GDL systems. One must also take into account the number of licensed 16 y/o drivers. The decrease in population crash rate supports the decrease in crash frequency, but that does not translate into a safer driving environment.

Discussion Research needs to focus on crash and citation rates in the associated population of licensed drivers, not the census population. Driver education programs and required driving times need to be reevaluated to encourage safe driving habits among young drivers before they are issued full drivers licenses.

Additional Authors: Patricia Dischinger Timothy Kerns